Refrigeration apparatus



Jan. 3. 1928. 1,655,212

w. H. THOMPSON REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Filed June 17, 1924 2Sheets-Sneet 1 1 INVENTOR. T 2 Wm '/,4/-1,7. THOMPSON A TTORNEY PatentedJan. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. THOMPSON, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

REFRIGERATION APPARATUS.

Application filed June 17,

, My invention relates particularly to a refrigeration apparatus adaptedto be used in small units.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the characterdescribed which will be extremely etlicient yet simple in structure andcompact in form.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will'be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated"in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. Itis to be understood that I do n0t.limit myself to the showing made bythe said drawings and description, as I'may adopt variations of thepreferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in theclaims.

Referring to said drawings Figure 1 isa plan view of the circulatingpump and gas cooling-unitof my apparatus.

Figure 2 is a side view of the unit shown in Figure 1 showing the gascooling portion in sectional view.

Figure 3 is a sectional View showing the refrigerating unit of theapparatus.

Figure 4 is an elevation showing the apparatus operatively associatedwith a refrigerator, a portion of-the latter being broken away.

In the design of refrigeration apparatus, much difiiculty has beenexperienced in producing apparatus which will be both compact instructure and simple and etiicient in operation. These requirements areparticu larly important in connection with units designed to be placedin homes, for the apparatus must occupy a minimum of space and willusually be operated by persons lacking in mechanical skill.

In the present embodiment of my invention,.I provide an apparatus whichis parvticularly designed for the use of sulphur dioxide as the coolingagent, since sulphur dioxide has been found particularly easy to handleefficiently in a small refrigeration apparatus. As here shown, theapparatus comprises a refrigerant circulating and cooling unit 6 and arefrigerating unit 7 adapted to be placed in any place such as therefrigerator 8 here shown, Where a cooling effect is desired, suitablesupply and return pipes 9 and 10 being used to connect the units 6 and 7of the apparatus.

The'unit 6 of my apparatus comprises a 1924. Serial No. 720,480.

base portion 11 inwhich is arranged a closed chamber 12 containing gascooling means and on which is mounted a circulating pump 13 and a motor1% operatively connected to the pump. The pump may be of any suitablekind, but as here shown, comprises a device such as is shown in mysimultaneously tiled and co-pending application for a pump Serial Number720,481, said pump being of the double acting reciprocating type. Sincein the operation of the apparatus, the gaseous refrigerant drawn throughand ejected from the. pump has a comparatively high heat content, bothon account of the heat acquired in its vaporization while passingthrough the refrigeration unit 7 and the heat of compression acquired inthe pump, cooling of the refrigerant to cause the condensation thereofis necessary before it is allowed to circulate back to and through theunit 7 to effect further cooling therein. In the present embodiment, thechamber 12 serves as a storage tank for the refrigerant, an excess ofthe latter being provided so that a sufli'cient supply of liquidrefrigerant for delivery to the refrigeration unit through the supplypipe 9 will be maintained, the inlet of the latter being necessarilydisposed in the liquid. Arranged in the chamber 12 is a plurality ofspiral coils 15 through which water is. arranged to be circulated in anydesired manner, so that cooling and condensation of the gaseousrefrigerant in the chamber may be elt'ected. Since the completeness ofthe cooling of the refrigerant directly affects the efliciency of theunit, continuous agitation of the gas in the chamber 12 is mostdesirable. Such agitation is here shown provided for by feeding the gasfrom the pump into the tank through two sets of angularly disposednozzle openings .16, it be ing readily understood that the alternatedischarge from the two ends of the pump will cause an alternatedischarge from the two sets of nozzle openings and thus serve tomaintain the desired agitation of the gas.

As here shown, the unit 7 comprises a brine tank 21, having compartments22 projccting laterally thereinto. To maintain the low temperature ofthe brine as freezing is effected thereby, I preferably provide chambers23 and 2% at opposite ends of the brine tank, the pipe 9 being hereshown connected with the top of the chamber 23 and the return pipe 10being connected to the bottom of the chamber 2st. A plurality ofpassages surfaces of the brine tank 21 and chambers 23 and 24 will serveto absorb heat from the may surrounding air, so that by placing the unitin the upper portion of the refrigerator, the

air so cooled may flow downward through the various compartmentsthereof. The supply pipe 9 contains an expansion valve 32 positionedadjacent the refrigerating unit'7. In this manner, chambers 23 and 24and passages 26- function as an expansion chamber for the gas escapingfrom the expansion valve 32. A pressure gauge 38 ispreferably'interposed' in the pipe 9 between the valve 32 and unit 7 sothat the operating pressure of discharge through the vaLve 32 may beindicated, and the apparatus regulated accordingly. A shut-off valve 30is provided in the pipe 9 at its point of egress from the chamber 12 sothat the gas be held in the chamber 12 if desired. In the usualinstallation, the cooling water would usually be drawn from the pipesupply of the house and run through the coils only once, the requiredrate of circulation of the water being low, and not much water beingtherefore needed. The gas is, of

course, used repeatedly, and since the tank is sealed .no escape 1spermitted.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerating apparatus, a gas cooling means comprising a closedchamber providing a cylindrical gas circulating space lnto whlch gas isarranged to be discharged The under pressure, a continuous coil in saidchamber arranged to have a cooling medium circulated therethrough, andmeans arranged to alternately and obliquely discharge gas into saidchamber at different viding a cylindrical "gas circulating space Y Iinto which the gas from said passages is arranged to be alternatelydischarged in different directions to effect the substantially completeagitation of the gaseous contents of each chamber at each discharge.

8. A refrigerating apparatus arranged to effect the cooling of brine bymeans of a normally gaseous refrigerant, comprising a closed supplytankproviding a cylindrical chamber for the gas and the liquid of thesame, a brine tank, an expansion chamber having portions positioned atopposite sides of said brinetank and a plurality of portions arranged toserve as passages between said side portions, an expansion valve throughwhich said gas is arranged to be introduced into saidexpansion tank fromsaid supply tank, a pump arranged to draw the gas from said expansiontank and alternately and obliquely discharge portions thereof atdifferent points in said supply tank whereby the gaseous content thereofmay be differently and. substantially completely circulated atsuccessive discharges of the pump, and pipes interposed in the path ofsaid circulating gas and through which a cooling fluid is arranged to bepassed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Oakland,California, this 2nd "day of June, 1924.

WILLIAM H. 'TnoMPsoN.

